The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

March 8, 2010

UPDATE: Sharon streets make for tight squeeze, potential parking changes

Parked cars create woes, council told

By Courtney L. Anderson

SHARON — Some of Sharon�s streets are so skinny that when people park their cars on both sides snow plows and fire trucks can�t get through.

It�s a daily grumble for some folks, waiting for another vehicle to squeeze through or cursing at the neighbors who park too far from the curb and impede the city�s ability to clear the way.

City Manager Tom Lavorini Thursday suggested council do something to combat the problem and is working on developing an ordinance that will ban parking on one side of some streets or even altogether.

Council members seemed to be all for the idea.

�I don�t think that there should be parking on both sides of the street on any street in Sharon,� said council President Mike Donato, a 26-year veteran of the city�s fire department.

�I agree,� councilman Edward Palanski said.

Donato said he�s been on emergency calls where a fire truck could not make it to its destination due to the congestion.

�At times it�s extremely trying,� he said of navigating the large apparatus through the city.

Lavorini�s noticed the difficulties during his few months on the job and traveling the streets.

And while the proposal may be unpopular for those who would be inconvenienced, the safety concerns likely outweigh that, he said.

Council would encourage input from the public on the issue.

The city manager said he�d been talking with street department head John Cave about the possibility of limiting parking on some streets, at least in the winter season and possibly year round.

Lavorini said he�s talked with members of the fire department, too, and it�d be easier for emergency vehicles if parking was restricted in some places.

There are a number of streets where no parking zones are on the city�s books, but there are no signs up and thus no way to enforce the laws, Lavorini said.

The street department will be remedying that soon by putting up new signs, he said.

Lavorini said he had a list of about a dozen streets for council to consider and most of them have off-street parking for residents. He declined to release the ones he�s thinking of restricting parking on, saying it will be up to council to decide.

He said he�d like to bring a draft to council in April or May to do something about the problem.

Lavorini also brought up the number of abandoned vehicles on city streets and in yards.

He said he�s told police and the code officer that he wants to see at least two vehicles removed each week, though five a week would make him happier.

The junk cars are a nuisance and a hazard to snow removal and public safety, Lavorini said. He noted that he�s seen some with Ohio plates (vehicles don�t have to pass yearly inspection to be on the road in Ohio) ditched on Sharon�s streets.

�I would like to aggressively pursue this,� he said.

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